Smith College Top Questions

The academics at Smith are definitely very rigorous. You can expect to have a stack of reading every week and spend a lot of time on homework. However, it all relates to your classes, so if you're really interested in the subject, it's not too bad. All of the professors are really great and willing to take the feelings of their class into consideration with assignments and the way class runs. They are generally pretty flexible and willing to meet with you any time to answer questions. I wish Smith was a little bit more geared toward getting students jobs, but because it is a liberal arts school, that is not always the focus.

Professors at Smith are the most intelligent, most helpful people I've ever meant. As long as you make an effort in their class, they will do everything in their power to help you. Because of this, students work very very hard and spend a lot of time studying, even on the weekends. Something unique about Smith is that we don't have distribution requirements. My entire time at Smith I have felt free to take whatever class I was interested in. Learning is definitely for the sake of learning, but for some, grades. My major is Chinese, but I'm also getting a Five College Certificate in International Relations. We also have new "concentrations" which are excellent programs focused on very specific subjects. They include an aspect of experiential learning which makes them incredibly unique. The number is also increasing rapidly!

In four years at Smith I only had one class that had more than 15 other students in it (I took an Education lecture with 70 students). I had several classes with just 4 or 5 other students in them. Professors always know their students' names and often much more; I would say most students develop a personal relationship with at least one professor. Students are usually eager to talk in class and class conversations often spill over into daily life. As an English major, I did probably an average of 3 or 4 hours of work a night (less in the beginning of the semester, a little more maybe toward finals). I felt like I got to take a variety of interesting classes right from the beginning, instead of being forced to take a lot of 101's. Smith has flexible requirements, so if you want to cover all the major disciplines you're encouraged to, but if you don't want to you don't have to. This made things loose enough to truly pursue my interests. A Smith education is focused on a broader sense of education, learning for learning's sake and learning how to be a life-long learner. That said, I had no trouble finding a good job after graduating, probably in part to Smith's good reputation. I genuinely loved most of the classes I took at Smith, and felt like the material was relevant and that the professors were really in tuned with what interested the students.

Just as you're likely to find your social niche at Smith, you're likely to find an academic one. For the most part, Professors are personable, the facilities are gorgeous, and your academic peer company raise competition. This is not a slacker school.

Classes at Smith are interesting. All of my professors have known my name, and I have talked to most of them outside of class. They are eager to help, are available during office hours and by appointment and email. In my first semester at Smith, my first year seminar class was invited over to our professors house several times, and he really took us under his wing. Students study and work hard in their classes. They participate in class for the most part. I love the fact that there are no requirements--you can take whatever interests you!

Great relationships with professors, ridiculously smart student body. Participation is encouraged. Most popular majors are government, psychology & economics, but there is also huge support of the sciences, especially engineering (the only majors to receive Bachelor of Science degrees instead of Bachelor of Arts). Huge emphasis on the liberal arts education, and one great thing is that there are no distribution requirements, so students can really shape their own curricula. The honor code is taken very seriously and allows Smith to have self-scheduled final exams.

Professors try very hard (and are successful in my experience) to be available. They are excited about the material and will talk about it just for fun with you, or they will guide you with papers, projects, etc. The open curriculum at smith (no required courses) is great because you can take charge somewhat of what you take. Students tend to put a lot of emphasis on grades, because the school's reputation is one of rigorous academics.

The academics here are great! The professors are all very helpful. They want you to succeed.

Smith is a tough school but not impossible. The classes and small which makes it a comfortable atmosphere. All of the professors are very nice and willing to help.

Amazing. A liberal arts education is the most important investment you can make in yourself and in humanity.